The life cycle of Moss is different than that of mammals. Moss has two stages in its life cycle. The sporophyte generation and the gametophyte generation. The longest lived, dominate stage is the gametophyte generation. The green, photosynthesizing, gametophyte produces antheridia and archegonia. Antheridia are the male portions of the moss plant. The archegonia are the female parts of the moss plant. During a rain event, water transports the flagellated sperm from the antheridia to the waiting archegonia. The sperm swim into the archegonia and fertilize the egg. The egg is now fertilized and forms a sporophyte. A capsule filled with spores grows in the archegonia. The capsule grows with the archegonia surrounding it. As the capsule grows, it is raised on a seta (stalk) that raises the capsule above the boundry layer and into the wind. The remains of the archegonia are now refered to as a calyptra and falls off of the sporophyte. The operculum is a small cap that covers the peristome on the end of the capsule. When the spores are "ripe" the operculum falls off, and the peristome (little teeth) open and close release the spores onto the wind. These spores land somewhere favorable and produce a new gametophyte moss.
